Planning a holiday in Greece is much like taking a trip back in time, to the very beginning of civilisation as we know it. Even the name evokes visions of turquoise-blue seas, whitewashed stone houses, ancient ruins, mythical gods, and centuries-old palaces. Hotels in Greece range from the luxurious and modern to small seasonal chalets. Summer tourists are advised to book accommodation well in advance.
Greece has made more contributions to our culture, philosophy, science and art than just about any other Western society. Visitors to Greece are spoilt for choice as there are unlimited number of ancient ruins to explore and relics to admire in its many museums. Athens, the capital of Greece, offers all kinds of sights, such as the Acropolis Parthenon ruins and the Attica area that surrounds it. Nightlife in Athens is fast-moving, and the Greeks love to party until the sun comes up!
From Athens, one can take short ferry excursions to surrounding isles, including Santorini Island, Mykonos and Crete, which features the ancient city ruins of Hania and Knossos. Resorts located on the Ionian, Aegean and Mediterranean Seas offer an incredible array of choices for travellers, drawing holiday-makers from all over the world. White, sandy beaches on pristine shimmering blue waters are plentiful and whether one seeks solitude or a fast paced nightlife- and everything in between- you can find it in Greece.
A visit to Greece is not complete without a stop in Olympia, the fabled birthplace of the first Olympic games. Situated in the Peloponnesus Valley, about 200 kilometres from Athens, the site offers a variety of famous ruins to see, including the hippodrome and the majestic temple of Zues. Another favorite spot for travellers to Greece is Delphi, and ancient city located on Mount Parnassus that symbolized the Greek world and was considered the centre of the universe. The oracle for the god Apollo was believed to have resided in Delphi during ancient times.
Greece is becoming an increasingly popular vacation destination, ranking in the top 20 countries worldwide. One can expect all the modern conveniences of a contemporary European nation, along with glorious relics of ancient empires.